By paNOW

Colleagues, party stalwarts gather to commemorate Don Cody’s political career

Apr 21, 2018 | 4:59 PM

It was 1952 when a teenaged Don Cody first dipped his toes into the political world.

Cody’s father asked him to accompany him to a federal nomination convention in rural Saskatchewan. Hugh Alexander Bryson of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) was nominated to represent the riding of Humboldt – Melfort – Tisdale that night.

“I will never forget the guys that were in federal politics at that time,” Cody said, listing off stalwarts of the CCF like Merv Johnson and Hazen Argue.

Cody later worked as a telegraph operator for Canadian Pacific Railway and moved on to be a claims adjuster for SGI in Regina. He stayed with the government insurance company until 1967 when he took on similar positions with the Co-op Insurance Services. 

In 1971, Cody decided it was time to put his name forward for elected office. He first ran for the NDP nomination in Watrous, prevailing over four others on the second ballot. He won in the general election and represented the riding until 1975. 

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He returned to politics in 1978 and held office as an MLA for Kinistino under the orange banner until 1982. During this time, he filled various cabinet positions under the Allen Blakeney administration. Cody’s portfolios included everything from charing the legislative review committee to managing forest projects, SaskTel, Queen’s Printer, and the now-defunct Saskatchewan Transportation Company (STC); one of many Crown corporations close to Cody’s heart.

After leaving public life, Cody moved to Prince Albert and opened Buns Master Bakery. From 1994 to 2003, Cody served as the city’s mayor. He returned to the private sector before successfully running for city council in Ward 4 in both 2012 and 2016.

Throughout his two-plus decades in politics, Roy Romanow said Cody brought “a sense of pragmatism and an uncanny ability to find common ground.”

The former premier from 1991 to 2001 was among of an array of NDP stalwarts, former policymakers and friends packed fittingly inside the E.A. Rawlinson Centre Friday night — a building both were instrumental in getting built — to commemorate and pay tribute to Cody’s political career. Romanow said despite political stripe, one must respect and honour anyone who devotes themselves to public life.

“I think it is essentially the fundamental aspect of democracy that men and women step up to serve,” he said. “Those here tonight … whether your beliefs are the same or not, are contributing to the strength of our community, our province and our democratic system.”

Romanow applauded Cody for his ability to work across party lines and with both the federal and provincial governments when needed. He and others reminisced on fond memories with Cody throughout the night; from the golf course to his “psychedelic” colourful clothing choices or countless tails of time on the campaign trail or working together during his time in the legislature. Others recalled Cody’s contributions to the city, like cleaning up the old stockyards to move the Cornerstone development inside city limits and disagreeing with the Attorney General on renovating Macintosh Mall and instead building a new provincial courthouse.

Prince Albert Northcote NDP MLA Nicole Rancourt, who played a part in organizing the night, thanked Cody for his mentorship, advice and encouragement when she sought political office. She recalled working in the Cody campaign room and her parents placing his signs on their lawn as a kid.

“He never forgot the people who voted for him,” she said.

Mayor Greg Dionne took a few friendly digs at Cody though called him an “astute colleague” and easily one of the “best-dressed politicians in Saskatchewan.”

When Cody piloted to the podium, he took shots at his own electoral track record. He said besides himself, the only others he knew who had lost more elections than they had won was John Diefenbaker and Coun. Dennis Nowoselsky. Cody also recalled countless stories, including one that still brings him to tears to this day; living and campaigning in 1971 for thirty days with Grant Notley — the former leader of the Alberta NDP and father of current Alberta premier Rachel Notley. He tragically passed away in a plane crash on Oct. 19, 1984.

Asked after the event how it felt to have a slew of former and current politicos shower him with appreciation and kind words, Cody was nearly rendered speechless.

“It is humbling to have this bestowed upon you. I really appreciate all of them coming,” he said. “When you have your own people come and be with you … I am lost for words just because of the fact it was so nice.”

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr